Speaking at the Pentagon on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth each drew direct connections between the 2001 terrorist attacks and the US-Israel war on Iran, which was launched over six months ago. The remarks marked a departure from typical September 11 ceremonies, which focus on the nearly 3,000 victims and the heroism of first responders.
According to reports from the scene, both officials used the solemn setting to frame the Iran conflict as a continuation of the fight against terrorism that began with al-Qaeda's attacks. The administration has repeatedly characterized Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, though critics note that the 9/11 hijackers were primarily Saudi nationals and that no direct link between Iran and the 2001 plot has been established.
The war on Iran, conducted jointly with Israel, has become increasingly unpopular as it drags on with no clear exit strategy. The decision to invoke 9/11 during the anniversary ceremony has drawn sharp rebuke from some veterans' groups and families of 9/11 victims, who argue the event should remain apolitical and focused on remembrance.
Neither Trump nor Hegseth offered specific new policy announcements, but their remarks underscore the administration's ongoing effort to cast the Iran war as a necessary extension of the post-9/11 security paradigm.